Sabri and troupe enthrall Riyadh audience

[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Sabri and troupe enthrall Riyadh audience" ids="118714,118713,118712"] By Mir Mohsin Ali RIYADH — Despite chilly weather in the city, a jam-packed auditorium of the International Indian School Riyadh witnessed the famed Qawwal Naushad Sabri and his troupe enthrall Indian expats, who did not miss any opportunity of entertainment on the weekend. This weekend live performance by Sabri and his troupe saw the rendition of selected qawwalis and ghazals that was enjoyed by the crowd. In continuation of the celebration of the 68th Republic Day of India, the Embassy of India organized here a Mehfil-e-Qawwali in association the Indian Council for Cultural Relation. The mutual admiration and the give-and take of dialogues of the listeners and the performers brought out the best in all on the occasion. Sabri said the response of the audience is key to our performance, and people here offered tremendous response. This, the singer, believes is the requirement in a qawwali session and the crowd enjoyed every bit of the program, which continued for more than three hours. Indian Ambassador Ahmad Javed welcomed the audience and said, “After the successful events in Jeddah, Jubail, Dammam, following super performance of Naushad Sabri, has enlivened Riyadh too. It is awesome performance and his qawwalis fully entertained the Indians.” He announced that very soon Embassy of India would organize a grand Mushaira in Riyadh. Dr. Hifzur Rahman, second secretary, welcomed the gathering and introduced Naushad Sabri and the troupe. He said the Indian Council for Cultural Relation is formed by Moulana Abul Kalam Azad to set up a council for the establishment of closer cultural relations between India and the neighbors in the East and West and closer contacts between India and all other countries of the world. He said, Naushad is the grandson of Ustad Ghulam Qader and hails from Saharanpur. He has been enthralling the audience with his mesmerizing mystical rendition for the past 28 years. His troupe includes Shahzad Hussain, Mohd Umar Daraz, Danish Hussain and Arshad Hussain. Naushad Sabri and his troupe, who presented 11 qawwalis and ghazals and began with “Allah Hoo, Allah Hoo”, “Bhar D0 Jholi”, “Sar E La Makaan Se Talab Hoi”, and ghazals “Mana Mere Jaan”, including the famous ghazal “Mere Rashke Qamar”, “Koi Hasi Manzar Jab Ojal Ho Jayega Muje Pagal Kahanay Wala Khud Pagal Hojayeh”, “Janaman Teri Ek Ek Ada Marhaba Marhaba”, “Bewafa Tera Mushkurana Yaad Anay Kay Kabil Nahi Hai”, “Dama Dam Mast Qalandar”. The stellar qawwali of the evening came with “Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom Sharabi, the famous ghazal originally sung by the famous qawwal Aziz Nazan. The audience broke into clapping and dancing on this number. Ambassador Ahmed Javed, his wife Shabnam Javed, Deputy Chief of Mission Hemant Kotalwar and his wife, community stalwarts enjoyed every bit of the program. Dr. Shoukat Pervaiz, Principal International Indian School Riyadh proposed the vote of thanks. Abdul Waheed Khan, librarian in Arab Urban Development Institute Riyadh, thanked the Indian Embassy for organizing a wonderful program and said the embassy should organize more programs, at least quarterly, to entertain the Indian community and increase the duration of time.